IS YOUR AUTHENTICATION CERTIFICATE/DATING LETTER IN DATE?

Those of you who have scooter projects waiting to be completed are likely to have applied for an authentication certificate (aka, a dating letter). Until recently there’s never really been an issue with how old your letter was, until May 2014 when the wording on the letters had to change to comply with current DVLA guidelines.
This meant that the letters needed to state that photos or rubbings had been seen, that the frame number had been checked against production records and that the frame number matched the production records. If this wasn’t enough, the rules have now been tightened further with any authentication certificates being required to be no older than 12 months. So if you have a letter issued over 12 months ago then you’re going to need to obtain a new one. This isn’t a money making scheme dreamt up by the authentication bodies, it is a requirement that has come directly from the DVLA. I’ve spoken to the Head of Vehicle Policy who has stated that the new ruling has been brought in because “the vehicle could have undergone significant alterations and changes during that time or been entirely disassembled.”

SO WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO?Simply check with whoever issued your authentication letter (whether that be LCGB, BLA, VVC, VCB or VMSC) and ask them for a replacement letter. Bear in mind though that they may levy a charge for this; after all, they need to sit and spend time preparing another letter.